Apparatus for treating given objects with a prolonged exposure to sunlight



Jan. 20, 1931. R E 1,789,513

- APPARATUS FOR TREATING GIVEN OBJECTS WITH A PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT Original Filed Nov. 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y 7 flZert C. BaTrQ e b z WWW Am, 6 595.

Jan; 20, 1931. A. c. BURRAGE 1,789,513

APPARATUS FOR TREATING GIVEN OBJECTS WITH A PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT Original Filed Nov. 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 j dbert C. BMW 7'62 e /jii gd'.

Jan. 20, 1931.

7 ;771:21eni 07-:

A. c. BURRAGE ,5 3 APPARATUS YOR TREATING GIVEN OBJECTS WITH A PROLDNGED EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 20, 1931.

A. c. BURRAGE 1,789,513 APPARATUS FOR TREATING GIVEN OBJECTS WITH A PROLONGED EXPOSURE 1'0 SUNLIGHT Original Filed Nov. 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I as 2 4 T I Z v Ri /eater.- .jfZ/aeri 6f Burra 6 '25 area in a given latitude f 'thesearths'sun faces; is, constantly; chang ng, Super-posed 4 7 ing or'limiting factor of all processes, such as ficial light does notduplicate and hencecan not'replace sunlight either in quality or in quantity. Therefore the hours in each year 1 or i .bepractlcable.

- du'ring which such life process can function'is positively fixed. e

' It therefore becomes essential for horticule nany given-se i n specially wh r the annual total of sunlight is low) to utilize to the very best advantage all of the available sunlight hours in the operation of their greenhouses and to effectfs'uch economiesandrefi-P r i s Q t eHg a S- eI C Q BQ SPQCQUSXWY c The annual available sunshine,'hovvevei ,@is-

subject to various other fluctuations, With-revation of spect to quantity, quality and intensity fQf thef other-words, vone hour of sunlight-is .not

equivalent to every other hour ofsunlight- Ingfa ct, during theseasonal variationsof the ea'rths positionwith respect .to the suns rays,

the quantity ofsunlight, falling upon'a unit this ichangei's the fluctuation due tothe "apparentdiurnal course of the sunwith respectto any specific area or location inques- :tion.-- The latter influenceis manifested by the'claily horizontal arc through-Which the direct rays, of the sun (with respect to agiven spot). apparently move and also the continuously increasing anddecreasing angle of elesuch rays with respect tofthe eartlfis horizon;

These fluctuations are indicated by the following table (latitudeapproximately 452 N.)

Horizontal are oft-he apparent diurnal com-8c -0f the s'wn December 2l l 138 March-21 andE'SeptemberQL 180 elevation of the sun at noon, with respect to thefltoriz'ontal June 21; f 72 7 December 21;- i 2/1 18min. March21; and September 2L; 747? along aihonizontalarc of 226 during a single day on June 21 and along an arc of 138 on Decemberil, While the are for each intervening day-varies proportionately, Consequentlythe angle at which. the sunlight imp in'ges upon 'thc glassiroof of a greenhouse 'variesin like manner. The angle alsfowaries withthe diurnal variation in theel'eva tion of the suns rays withrespect 'to the horizontal fr0m Sunrise till noon and from noon till: losses-are also greateriwhen theangle of "in- Sunset-5 of the: sum

is in large" part reflected. To such extent as sheet of glass at low or acuteangles, the light this occurs, therefore, the light isnot trans-' I mitted through the glass and hence does not reach the plants in the interior of the housc. The proportionate amounts to which this reduction of light may reach will beapparent from the followingtable; v I V I i Relative percentage of light f 'Itis therefore manifest that during those hours ofthe .day (for example in the early cmQr ning'and late afternoon) when the light" eomestQ the roomof-the greenhous'eat a low sunlight received by the earths surface. In

or acuteangle, the effective or transmitted light is greatly reduced, by an amount which increases with. its deviation, from the perpendicular to, the glass surface. Hence, since the I light is initially -l'ess" intense at these hours, the actualvalue of the efiective light receivedcwithin thehouse is j exceedingly di-V minished.- I i Q v Y To, partiallyoflsetthis loss of light many greenhousesare placedso that the main roof lins, and'shelves, asWell as various mechanisms" which are incidental to greenhouse operation, jca st shadows upon the contents of the,h,ouse and'these shadows in effect, traverse substantially everything lying beneath or behind such obstructions in the course of the day. In this manner a given plant may bersuccessively shaded by many different rafters during difierentfparts of the day as W611 as, byv-more substantial opaque objects, a such asthe opaqueshelvesland flower pots,

and the other plants which may at some period stand between them, and the direct rays When light passes from a medium of a given degree or rate of transmission, such as j the air,tola medium of difierentdegree or rate of transmission; suchqas glass, it, is reffracted', as is Well known and'there is a loss of intensity which is .due partly to dispersion and 'partly to absorption; 'Both of these i 'Anbther fleensillenation1(ii-the;factorstenth ceied -byiebjeeter s-in types heretpfiQ're" used H therein (includingthe surf 'When-it-stancls p:'rpendicularptolthevsuifs rays ,.'anclfthis sunlight face will ;4 "Intens ty: dfl'radiat 1.n9rm1al;tp the sun? y to an appreciable,hei'ght and itsiilight is 1 f strong intensity, "these" clrope'aetas lenses anclthe light burns the; surfaces under them 1 plants are in the' ing-V to diminish the'jefleetii ez isunlight V acex-gf :the glass roof) receives{IightitOZ bStadvantage-j only fprecisc'qnditibn loceujrs if at all,:'bi1t momentarilyjyeach day'.; The: conse-, quent relative V.aria'tio nsg in1i ingtensitykof the received by'agfixecl hnrizontal zsur: be eleanifbmthefolldwingdatai n f 7? 'f f i Q Intensity, of radiation ,bnfajho til s;ur ae While the 1tensity' 'bf"thefearlyjinorning light (when the sun-is at at-low yertical alti tude is therefore initially of "a very low 1 value," it; is nevertheless iimportant that V a 7- it 7. should reach {the large proportion of plants '1 It has" "been found experienee *that mildew 'niay he feaueeql bytthel. 001d dew t'vhic'h falls i1f$01i 'plai1ts :and ifiowers; in the early morning hours; if it =-iis n otrzi' pirllyj antl- -'more or less completely evapbiated; A gain;

plants and remainsnntiL the sii'n has: risen as is Well known il-ldwevergthere is 'lessjbpportunity for such evapdrati0n tdbecur n a "glass-enclosed i greenhonse than when' the" early morning breeze'eor lightycurrentsoi' airif 'Hencefitis' essential that deficiency v of air becorrected by l'llilklllg'fiivjtillbl as much oflthe early sunlight as "is p'ossiblegfor T thi'spurp'osei variations in vthe qilantitiese fisunlight which are available in different f localities and 1 the 1 deficiencies in the present niethods' and' apparatus fo'r"renderingthe sunlight eiiectiye With respect to the plants "gr-own' -in green housesand the like", the conditions encountered in the grow nglqif erehidsjnay becited.

WhlCh' is acne of the largest b'f the vegetahle V kingdom, is almost" wholly for new "hybrids.

I Although the Orchid seed is'n t islowi in gercan be satisfied .by onlya *fe individuals n account bf the "great amount "elf "tim ,atte'n- Eiti(ingjariliexpenseawh c, 1 hy Acenrclingly;

: V ant age v required; from the! Seedtp? hloeeming --eni'pl6yedl) Le and p ie t 1 a sefiieinta quantity. and quality ght throughou cl t which is require-aro- "tomakep ssible. ame v itlon *suchgplants in'ie'gibrii'stof the latitndeeori eg'i Ii'sjoff 'lfabl 3ligh tihenr'slyi" adafittlfafoi-- I I I ambi tomato-a r e the d prsen mg 'il g ai b1 "en'd 'it 31smy 'specialirpurposeytp pro has f r Slo ow g;"p nt r estly it every ra Of sunlight fr'dmi the; b ginnin oi the year proii 'idiiig theineees sary afidwle grbwth of plantsinl ffieieiit ine pensive and practicable wa t r eii h- I clee'rea'se v thetdtala period Di jt'imeF fBS f iizen resi lt and-thus .7 f a 3efiieient thejcultiva:

hi h

I 7 to the 'eriii. Otherl ob-ijf f M =je1ctsfwil1 appear from the 'f'ollbwingf displa' I 'Openancl"exposeditothe;

honing-the transparent surface im e i ter": 1 v mined 'relationshipfto the nn s' rays, an(l* 0011- I itialor peri'ddic'al' ynchronism with"- the arying direction of the I l the} sun {with respect' tb t turning novenienizr'm ywb h conta ner; The.

anclwillferye to" acco" pl sult; although 'rot'atio be preferred Vention inayconsist generally permanent a b'r fixed base" and a'f transparenlieonta ner 1 sueli as a glass. house for, gfeenhbfjhee')? and;

'i 'ne aiisffer'mgnnting the container. thereon to r::-t urning the same-'thr-Qngh the i'e- 4 am litudes-d am which mayb'e'nec a are preferably-provided fbr dete ini ng arid re'g 'lating'i the gprebise angiilairidispbitioit efith'e 'liou'se and ofqthef 1 use j tion forthe germination; development and growth of orchids, which is especially typical and representative of. the'various conditions,

qualifications, and results for which the in- ;vention may be adapted in practice.

T The growth oforch'd's (as indicatediby the natural environments of the almost'inmnnarable species which .com'pose th-isorder of plant life) involves extremely diverse condi- .tions of weather and of sunlight. Most orchids row, in the tropics in their wild and uncultivatedstate, and are found in the su ltry, humid atmosphere of swamps and. in

the dense shady forest growths, upon the trees in Fthe open: edges 0 the woods, in pro- ,waslled cliffs; and at substantially all intermediate; sta es of local and seasonal climatic condition. silened to' properly propagate and cultivate, any large" number of varieties of orchids inlone locality, it becames manifestly essential that this wide range. of conditions must be, in large part at least; reproduced.

Tothis end the requirements ofheat; moisture, and freshair are readily supplied, even .in northern latitudesyby. artificial: means; Butthe multifarious conditions of. light and :shadeandofthe qualityofi the sunli ht duringthe different parts of theday an at dif- .ferent angles of presentation which obtain in the natural environment of. the wild orc'hidhave; been attempted only in minor details. H

- Thepractical adaptation of the'invention .Wi'llybfl describedwith respect to the growing of young orchids in greenhouses, ,(as. representative of its application in general and not by way of limitation) referencecbeing had to: the accompanying drawings,.in which:

.Fig.;1 is an. elevation and cross section of a cordancewith-the invention; 1 .1 Fig; 2 'isa planviewalong the line 2-2 Fig. 3' is an elevation of a modified form of the greenhouse shown in Fig.1 1; and Fig. 4 is of a further modification.

In the drawings number 1 indicates the permanent 1 base 7 upon which is mounted the superstructureof greenhouse 2,,with means-3 .the earth 6, and is enclosed at the bottom by a for permitting the greenhouse tobe rotated or revolved upon the I any required direction.

wall 4 which maybe set below the surface of floor;-7 The well thus formed'may be; partly filled with rain or other water 5;-to keepthe atmosphereinzmoist condition but space 8 is separated and walled off at one side to receive heatin pipes. 9, leadingtothe coil .11, and

a ofthe-greenhouse. .A specific application of the inventionwill greenhouse constructed and arranged inacbase to substantially I me -51s like apparatus I onnected with theoperation theinner top edge of the Wall'4: is provided an annular gutter or "trough '12 adapted to 'receivewater or .other l-iquid 10 therein for purposes later to be described. Around the top. surface of .the'walliis provided a ball race13j(which may becomposed of a oilcula-r plate or-plates and made of'metal or wood) having-an annulan groove 14 in the middlekthereotto receive ball bearings '16,

orlconical bearings, or other: suitable equivalent." I

The reenhouse2may the usualleanto or 0t er constructioncomprising a revolving support ojr platform such. as the reinforced-11001117 carried upon'acircular ball race 18, on'its under side, more or less sym- 1 metrically disposed with respect'to the Vol vtectedvalleysq n the mountalns, upon'seaw ume "and weightof the house, and adapted to restupon the ball bearings 16- lying in the groove of the lower ball'race and fittingzinto rovided; an annular dependin annular gutter or trough 12. Outside of the ballrace 18 is provideda second annular flange21 overhanging the outer edge of. ball;

race 13,.and' of suficient diameter to clear .theball race. andfoundationwallbut extending slightly. below the aperture dueto the v ball-bearing construction.

An opening'22 is provided through the floor 17 covered by a grid 23, positioned in recesses 24 to permit. ready access to the, Well 1 or manhole-8;, r

The upper portion of I the structureiQQ as shown; comprises vertical sidewalls 26, 127, a lean-to style ofroof 28 and benches-29 of the type now usually used. Other construcadded as required. p

On, the outside of thehouse and CO'IlVGIh iently attached: in predetermined fixed relationship'tothesunny aspect of the greenhouseroof there isprovided a style 31. As

shown, the style projects perpendicularly to v the sunny wall of the house. i

' Alon'gthe outer margin of the circular foundation wall i; are provided a-series of openings or pipes .32. These may be closely ande'venly spaced or they may'bespaced at predetermined intervals in the circumference of the wall attached to the greenhouse proper. .Positioned in such manner as tov .Thebase 1 lncludes a substantially circular "for certainpurposes. be specially adapted,

tion and fixtures for specific'purposes may be I tions and qualificatiens ma "Consideration it may be preferable. I

' Y -i'l'-l're maybeheated bya hbt mere! steam coil 11 whilefiIi isture-is from thebody'ofwater cdntained -infthe well annular; flange 20, by "intothfe watercontained iii-trough '12, and flange 21;; form a-seal agaiust the entrance iof airfroin outer atmospbere'erthe imetmeiswjreand.

heatirom theiinterior f the greenhouse}; a 0f the rnethed ofjthe in veatinn, infadditibi 'to'tl'ieiiorizontal angulan movement of the-greenhouse a's thusprovided,

f describedexcept that it may be somewhat moEeasilyefiected ahdordinarilyit'wiH not befneqessary to lock it in position, though the handie" may be" tied-ii rfind'fpressure 'or -the I olikere uires it.

l'tf'wi l be apparent that l of 'the housel may be automatically effected eithericontinuously," as by suitablygeared 4 7 clobkworkforiby intermittently bperate'd driving mechanisms of wellknown'con'stmm ti6nsandmodes of o ration." iHandoperati'on is,-however,-Su ciently simple and aecurate for most purposesand atisomeseasons ofv the 'yeanwhen special Conditions" require it may-be desirable te'impant.a verfieal'anguperiod each-day. s

"As above emu; ima practicable maxima may be desirable and may beefiected with respect-to the initial sun-f light asalready described; but other varia interppsing shade of different kinds amide grees-as by lattice work blinds,' transparent" walls, such as glass, translucent sheets, as cloth, 'difierent colors {of transparent, translucent, or reflective media, and 1 variousoth'e! combinations and conditions resorted to for the modification and-controif of thenatureand intensity'of the e'fi'ective sunlight brought to bear upon the plant-sumited intensity 'of the sunlightduete'latitude' the fluctuating number of actual an j light ours during the seasons of the year.

I ,s It is tobeunderstoodthatmanyadaptatiom der treatment, It fol lowsfas" a consequence? that de ds of sunlighttram; y be effected, n accordance with this? invention: limited only-to the initially limand b ment of plants "with sunlig'lht, 1 comprising a support, a transparent" 'enc ment of plants with" the contentsef be pro vided by and modifications of the invention and ap-V paratus' a s :here described-mayaandnormally will bejresorted to inthe practical application thereofinthe several artsto which it is inher ent1y:related,"but such adaptationsand motcli fications are oon sidered to be bomprehen'ded and includedby the abovedisclosure and as being within the terms of; the following claims; I I 'I- claim': o

1'. A greenhouse for the prolonged treatmm of plants with sunlight, comprising a support,I a transparent 'en closure 'characteri zed by-a roof forming a wide angle with the horizontal andmeaus forgrotating the. Lena closure, about a. vertieal axi's in substantial. syn'chronism with the course ofthesun"srays'.

2.;A greenhouse ior'the prolonged treatosure character ized by a roof fo'rminga wideangle with the horizontal, and perpendicular to a pred'e termined' means or averagaelevation of the synchronism with the eoursejof the suns rays. 3. A greenhouse forthaprolonged treatment of -:plants with sunlight, comprising a support,-an enelesure thereon, having a trans parent slopingi oof and adjustable series-of shelves adjacent'tothe inner si de of the root,

and means forrotating the enclosure in substantiai synchmnism with the course of'the sunsmys.-

- 4. {A greenheuse ier iirolonged ath support, a transparentenclosure c ara/ctersuns rays, and means 'fer rotating'theentlosure about a vertical axis insubstantial sunlight, com risin g'a ized .by a roof forminga widle angle with the 1 horizontal, and means for fotating' the :e'n closure in substantiuiljeyinchronism with the I 15.; 1A greenhouse eomprising a base having" aivall, antifriction bearings carried byfsaid wall, an enclesu re for plants'including a transparent roof anda floonresting upon and supported by bearings, means for i-ot'atingsaid enclosure to said base, means 1- creating moistureand heat in said-base, andmeans for admitting such moisture andheat to said enclosure.

6. A greenheuseoomprising a base having a cireu'lar 'wali-within v'oir', antifrictkm ,beau'ings upon said ugonsaid bea rings relative which is a liquidj reser I an enclosure for iplants comprising a transparent l-00f and afloor resting upon' an'd supported by said bearings, said floor including a perforate portion through which moisture from said liquid reservoir ma enter said enclosurefand means to rortate said enclosure upon-said bearingsfrelutive tosaid basei 7. A greenh use comprisinga base having a cireular wall within which is a liquid reservoir, and heating meamsfantifriction beartings upon said wall, an enclosure for plants" comprising a transparent roof" and a "floor said floor; including a" perforate i portion through which the moisture from said jliquid 7 reservoir an d theheafi from said means may base.

8'. Agre'enhouse coiiipi'isifig aibasehairing fli I W v enter'said enclosure,andmeatis tg Erotate'tsaid enclbsureupon s aid bearingg'ielat iueli t Sai I-QL a: 1

a circularwall; a'cbucinuous-arinular trough fi' adaptedto containliquid on the iIiIlQlfLCQOf '3 I t I said wall, a ntifriction bearingsupohfsaid wall, an enclosufe; for plantscbmpri siu'g t transparent roof and a'floor'resting upenand a supported by said bearings, an annular flange a depending from isaid floorriute-said 'ti'eugh, v and-means torjotate said enclosure 'updngsaid;

g beari'1igs relative tds'aid base, 1 g i 1;;

by me 'atiMantihester Massa .Signed r v 'setts this second "day of October1-9281 a;

A E f G-YB BRGEQi r 

